There are few spirits more synonymous with warm-weather drinking than tequila. From Margaritas to Palomas and everything in between, few drinks are as satisfying as a classic tequila cocktail on a hot day – so long as you avoid the cheap mixes and shot glasses. Every guy should have at least one bottle of their favorite tequila on their bar cart along with the fruits and juices that are used in the best tequila cocktails: lime, lemon, and grapefruit. Homemade simple syrup or grenadine are important to have ready, too, and while you’re at it, stock up on some proper cocktail glassware.
With all the things necessary to play home bartender, keep these eight classic tequila cocktail recipes handy for anytime the temperature creeps up.
The Best Classic Summer Tequila Cocktails
Tequila Sunrise
Extremely refreshing and visually compelling, the Tequila Sunrise is easy to make and can seriously cool you off on a hot day. In fact, you don’t even have to expend any energy mixing or shaking – you can build it right in the glass.
Tequila Suggestion: Patrón Silver ($52)
Recipe:
- Combine 2 ounce of tequila and 1 ounce of orange juice over ice in a highball glass.
- Float 3/4 ounce grenadine on the back of a bar spoon into the glass.
- Garnish with an orange slice and a Luxardo cherry.
Margarita
Ah, the lovely Margarita. A well-made Margarita perfectly balances sweet and tart flavors. Sure, you might think it’s a little played-out and you’ll find at least one on each table of seemingly every Tex-Mex spot you can find. But there’s a reason that the Margarita is such a ubiquitous tequila drink: it’s delicious.
Tequila Suggestion: 1800 Blanco Tequila ($18)
Recipe:
- In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 ounces tequila, 3/4 ounce orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau), 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, and one teaspoon of simple syrup or agave nectar.
- Shake with ice until chilled, roughly 20 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass or margarita glass over ice with a pre-salted rim.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Paloma
The Paloma is another easy to make tequila cocktail that takes little preparation and no shaking. It also happens to be just about the most refreshing thing you can order. Plus, you can easily customize your Paloma to fit your tastes by swapping in fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice and adding unflavored soda or sweetening it up some by using Squirt.
Tequila Suggestion: JAJA Blanco Tequila ($33)
Recipe:
- Salt the rim of your highball glass.
- Combine 2 ounces of tequila and 1/2 ounce of lime juice in a highball glass over ice.
- Add 4 ounces of grapefruit soda like Jarritos and stir to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wedge or grapefruit slice.
Mexican Firing Squad
Despite its grisly name, the Mexican Firing Squad is actually quite a lovely tequila cocktail. With its bright pink hue and balanced sweetness, the Mexican Firing Squad is perfect for summer sipping. It’s effectively a riff on the classic Margarita, but still deserves its own mention on this list. Note that you can also add soda or seltzer to add some fizz to this refreshing drink.
Tequila Suggestion: Santera Blanco Tequila ($45)
Recipe:
- Combine 2 ounces of tequila, 3/4 ounce of lime juice, 3/4 ounce of grenadine, and 5 dashes of Angostura bitters in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Mexican Mule
This tequila riff on the classic Moscow Mule combines the refreshing carbonation of ginger beer and the herbaceous flavor of tequila. In short, it’s the perfect summer cocktail. Serve it in a copper mug, highball glass, or whatever you’d like.
Tequila Suggestion: Casamigos Blanco ($20)
Recipe:
- Combine two ounces of tequila, 1/2 ounce of lime juice, and 4 ounces of ginger beer in a copper mug.
- Add ice and stir to mix.
- Garnish with a lime slice.
Tequila Sour
A Whiskey Sour is an easily remixed cocktail and happens to work great with tequila. Simply swap in your favorite tequila and enjoy the foamy, refreshing goodness that this drink has to offer. If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to the egg whites in a Tequila Sour, sub in some aquafaba (the water in a can of chickpeas).
Tequila Suggestion: Mijenta Reposado Tequila ($69)
Recipe:
- Combine 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of lemon juice, 1/2 ounce of lime juice, 1/2 ounce of simple syrup, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, and one egg white in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lime wedge and Luxardo cherry.
El Diablo
El Diablo is an extremely refreshing drink that has somehow flown under the radar when it comes to tequila cocktail canon. It combines the lovely agave flavors of tequila with the nearly spicy elements of ginger for a bright, fizzy, tasty cocktail. The original recipe calls for ginger beer, but feel free to experiment and use ginger ale instead.
Tequila Suggestion: Milagro Reposado Tequila ($31)
Recipe:
- Combine 1 1/2 ounce of tequila, 1/2 ounce of creme de cassis, and 1/2 ounce of lime juice in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass over ice and top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Ranch Water
Ranch Water is something of a modern classic at this point. You’ll find it at plenty of trendy cocktail bars and in-the-know Tex-Mex joints. For my money, it’s much more fun to make this simple yet undeniably refreshing cocktail in the comfort of your own home. Ultimately, this is a very silly riff on a simple tequila and tonic, which is a lovely drink in its own right. But the cult of Topo Chico has completely dominated this cocktail and has turned it into a phenomenon all its own.
Tequila Suggestion: El Rayo No. 1 Plata ($35)
Recipe:
- Pop off the cap of a bottle of Topo Chico and pour out about 2 ounces.
- Pour 1 1/2 ounces of tequila and 1/2 ounce of lime juice into the Topo Chico bottle.
- Swirl it gently with your thumb over the top.
